Advice to my younger self: nineteen tips to survive and thrive at work.
30 years ago this summer I walked out of the gates of The University of Leeds, degree certificate in hand and ready to begin the next phase of my adventures. There followed a month travelling in Australia before returning to start my dream job in television.
This is me on the left from my student days… on the right it’s me at the same spot, taken this week. Nice to see you again, young Ian.
So, what would I tell this pensive-looking, 20-something-year-old, to help him survive and thrive at work?
Embrace the Unplan. Have goals but don’t worry too much about a fixed linear plan of how to get there. We can plan all we like but curveballs send us off on tangents. Having a flexible mindset will go in your favour (watch out for a big curveball in 2020) and it’ll take you to places you didn’t think possible.
...and it’s okay if you lose the way. Some days you’ll have laser clarity about where you’re headed and what you’re doing. Other days you might feel adrift and rudderless. That’s okay. As my friend Jerry asked me, (you’ll have to wait quite a few years until you meet him!) what if being lost is part of the path? What if feeling lost, directionless and uncertain of the progress is an indicator of growth? I always remember that when I can’t see the path in front of me clearly.
Always surround yourself with people. Some of your happiest and most stimulating times will be when you’re leading a team or working on big projects. You love that collaboration and the camaraderie that goes with it. So build your career around that, and enjoy those experiences while they last.
You’re never too old. Back when I was 33, I remember lacking the courage to pursue a radically different career path. Why? Because I thought I was too old to restart. Too old! 33 years old is not too old for a career pivot (nor is 43, 53 or 63). Just because you finished one chapter of your career it doesn’t mean the highs are over. There’s more to come.
Keep standing on stage. Even back then, in your student days, you were in your element when standing on stage, giving presentations and making people laugh. Never stop doing that.
Hold storytelling in your heart. Stories were your hallmark in your college days. Writing for the college newspaper. Making videos. Taking photos. Getting involved in student radio. Carry on creating and sharing stories.
Design a work life around Ian. Know what it takes for you to have a good day at work. We’re all different, so focus on how you like to work - getting out of the office, going for a walk, being curious. Design your work life around YOU.
Don’t follow the money. In your career you’ll be offered startup roles where you can make a real impact in the creative industries. But they won’t pay much. That’s okay. Don’t make the mistake of always comparing salaries to what you earned before. The pay may be lower but the opportunity is likely to be way bigger.
Don’t lose that twenty-something confidence. The only difference between imposter syndrome and just doing it, is confidence. When you were a student, you had stacks of confidence. But there’ll be a time in the next few years when you have as much talent as everyone else, but you might not have the confidence to match. Give yourself a nudge and a pep talk to convince yourself you can do it - and you will.
Ask for help if you’re struggling. Having a lot of success at an early age will see you rise quickly through the ranks. Before you know it, you’re running a business. But you’ve never done it before and it takes its toll. So if you’re struggling with the workload or just can’t cope, put your hand up and say so. Don’t wait until things get so bad you find yourself in the doctor’s surgery.
Don’t work with dicks. Life’s too short. Someone doesn’t respect you? Turn down their offer of work. If you’re being bullied by your boss? Don’t stand for it. Call them out. It’s not acceptable. You don’t need to tolerate toxicity in the workplace.
Switch off, get some down time. There’s a lot of hard work ahead of you. So be kind to yourself - take downtime when you need it. Especially when you become a dad and your kids are small. They’ll grow up so fast. That project or gig can wait.
Set your own metrics for success. Don’t worry so much about what you think success should look like. You don’t have to wear a suit or have an impressive job title - have your own version of success. Like being your own boss. Working out of cafes. Going for lunchtime swims. And don’t worry about what anyone else says.
Get a reputation for one thing. You'll end up with a rich and varied career, working in multiple industries, with many strings to your bow. That’s cool. But have a strong unifier - a thread that can tie it all together - that you can get known for and so the outside world knows what you actually do.
Know what really matters. In all you do, live your life according to what’s sacred to you. Identify the things that are important - freedom, independence, creativity - and know what you can leave out. Make these your guiding principles, a manifesto to live by.
Be who you needed when you were younger. When you were a kid, not many people got you or gave you the advice you needed. But you ignored them and ploughed your own furrow. So when you get in a position to help, mentor and guide people starting out - be who YOU needed when you were younger. Deliver that guest lecture, go and give that talk to the school kids, provide an alternative perspective and counter the naysayers.
Keep on being you. In all you do, keep on doing things your way - it will give you an edge and keep you distinctive. When you were a teenager you worried what ‘growing up’ might mean. Would you have to put a smart suit on, stop going to gigs, and get all serious? Well the good news is that the secret to growing up is not to lose sight of who you were as a young man. You can still go to Billy Bragg gigs, and still have a denim jacket (or two) on your coat pegs.
Hold tight. It’s gonna be a roller coaster ride. Ups? Yes. But also downs. But don’t worry - that’s life. So hold on tight and make sure you stop to look around and enjoy the views from the top.
Keep on dreaming. When you were a kid it was your dream to work in TV and radio. Now that’s coming to fruition, you’re starting your career in television production. Well: keep on dreaming! Travel to interesting places to give talks, get books published, meet your heroes: your dreams will fuel you on your adventure.
This is my advice to a younger me - and hopefully much of it sound advice to people starting out on their careers now. But what have I missed? What would you say to your younger self?
